What is unethical about jewelry you can buy at fast fashion stores? To start, the labor conditions that prevail in such factories have driven thousands of consumers away from stores like Zara and Gap. Additionally, fires, child labor and building structural problems make it unacceptable for many people to endorse such brands, even when they provide relatively “good” products at affordable prices. Also, in 2012 it was revealed that some cheap fashion stores were selling jewelry contaminated with poisonous metals, including Forever21 and H&M, so our trust has simply been broken.
There is definitely somewhat of a maximalist trend happening in jewelry right now, it’s not quite maximalist because of big statement pieces, but rather, a style that integrates many different textures and at least ten rings just for starters. We have put together a lit of brands that offer great alternatives for such trendier looks and also classic products. By the way, do don’t like “statement” jewelry, in general terms, it looks cheap.
Just a note, this is not necessarily a wedding ring jewelry list, if you are looking for wedding and engagement rings, head over to Brilliant Earth, an amazing eco-friendly and ethical label for fine jewelry.
Factors we considered
For the most part, the brands we selected do not market themselves as ethical, with the exception of Soko. The reason is mainly that many of those brands do not offer attractive alternatives in terms of design and are many times made of lower quality materials, they use the fact that their jewelry is made by some disadvantaged group of people as a selling point and we believe that diminishes the quality of a brad if the product is not great. We are skeptical of fair trade and other made in [insert African country] products because the first priority should be the product, which some of those companies overlook. Here, we are presenting you only things we would wear and recommend as great buys.
Our main consideration what the manufacturing location. Most of these brands are made in USA or another developed country, discarding the possibility of fast-fashion-like labor practices, they are also beautifully made, mostly by hand and with original designs too (yes, there are design trends you’ll see here, but the specifics change). Ultimately, we believe these are products you’ll want to own forever, like any good piece of jewelry, and we have all price ranges and qualities for you to choose from.
Top Ethical Jewelry Brands
Why Wren and Glory?
- Made in Brooklyn
- Price range: $45 – $175
At very good prices compared to similar brands, this two sister operation is a refreshing take on contemporary jewelry and is killing it on Instagram with its signature designs proudly made in USA.
 |
 |
 |
Why Ariel Gordon?
- Made in Los Angeles
- Price range: $170 – $700
Ariel Gordon makes beautiful and classic designs that can be worn for years without losing their relevance. The LA-based designer aims to create your favorite jewelry and countless stars have been seen wearing the Made in USA collections.
Ariel’s vision is to create simple jewelry that appeals to a variety of women, with the goal of creating jewelry that can transition well and be wardrobe staples, like a favorite pair of jeans or a trusted handbag. In these economic times a woman requires more versatility from her jewelry – a necklace has to work both when she goes out on a date Friday night and when she’s at the Farmers Market on Sunday morning.
 Love Knot Ring |
 Dust Lariat Necklace |
 Diamond Horizon Ring |
Why Dana Bronfman?
- Made in Brooklyn
- Price range: $85 – $4,400
Dana Bronfman uses recycled 18k gold, sterling silver, conflict-free diamonds, and ethically-sourced gemstones. The designer also tries to implement eco-friendly practices, using scrap metals and recycling when possible.
 Convex Sterling Silver Ring |
 Inverted Cross Sterling Silver Necklace |
 Pyramid Sterling Silver Necklace |
Why Amber Sceats?
- Made in Australia
- Price range: $79 – $300
Since 2012, the brand is a perfect mix of contemporary and timeless design, where every piece is noticed but far from the ungodly “statement” jewelry. Pearls, creative ear pieces and a taste for the unexpected make Amber Sceats one of our favorite in this list. We found the prices very affordable compared to similar brands here and this is in part due to the use of stainless steel in many of the products, which offers great quality at a much lower price, but don’t worry, they have silver and gold too.
You can shop at the official website but if you are in the US and want to save the overseas shipping, head over to Revolve or Shopbop.
 Lolita ear cuff |
 Sierra palm cuff |
 The Bentley Ring |
Why Rocksbox?
- Made in different locations, mainly USA
- Price range: $19 monthly fee
Rocksbox is our favorite new discovery. The startup is a subscription service where, for a flat monthly fee, you get a jewelry set delivered to you every month. They feature designer jewelry mainly made in USA from brands like House of Harlow 1960 and Gorjana. You can build your own wishlist and a stylist picks the pieces for you, you can make special requests and send them feedback on your selection to adjust your taste profile and that’s it! New designer jewelry every month never looked so simple. For $19 you get a 3 piece set that you can return anytime and swap for the next set. You can also purchase any of the items too, if you’re not ready to let them go.
We’ll be reviewing Rocksbox soon, but if you want to try it, go ahead, it’s on us! Just use the code THEYARINAXOXO at checkout and you’ll get a free month! You will need to enter your credit card information, but you won’t be charged a penny, that’s the standard practice and all you have to do is be sure to cancel if you don’t want to get charged the next month. Let’s just say, we’re pretty sure you won’t feel like cancelling this subscription.
 Amalfi Bangle in Moonstone |
 Temple Pave Necklace in Rose Quartz |
 Arrow Affair Cuff |
Why FPCO Limited?
- Made in Texas
- Price range: $10 – $70
This is your more ethical alternative to fast fashion jewelry. FPCO started as an Etsy store and now has its own website. Made in Texas and looking to satisfy those trend craving waves, this brand is a rather unknown find where you can get interesting pieces at a very affordable price.
 Midi rings |
 Moon Maiden body chain |
 Silver hand chain bracelet |
Why Baby Anything?
- Made in Australia
- Price range: $120 – $600
Delicate and tasteful designs make this brand a timeless choice, no statement pieces, just beautiful and classic items with a touch of modern vibes, yet great for any age and style. And yes, they have a skull ring with ruby eyes [insert emoji with heart-shaped eyes].
 The Lady Capulet seed pearl and diamond white gold ring |
 The Goddess rose gold thin rings |
 Hanalei pearl drop ring |
Why Eckris?
- Made in Stockholm
- Price range: $12 – $24
Eckris strives for sustainability in their sourcing and operations. The jewelry is handmade to order in Sweden and features carefully selected raw materials and transparent product information, along with innovative materials like pewter as a more sustainable substitute for silver. Also, all of their packaging is eco-friendly. Good designs and even better pricing with a focus on sustainability, yes, please!
 Karma Necklace |
 Gianna Ring |
 Aria CZ Bracelet |
Why Pamela Love?
- Made in New York
- Price range: $108 – $ 430
Pamela Love is one of the biggest names in designer jewelry, with styles that are copied over and over and a taste for the unexpected, this brand is the perfect option for the unconventionally styled. And yes, I mean skull rings. The following extract from their website explains why we love it:
The line is committed to sustainability and localized production. All gemstones and semiprecious stones are ethically sourced and almost all metal used is recycled. The entire jewelry-making process, from design to sampling to full-scale production, is completed domestically with the majority of it done in-house at Pamela Love’s Manhattan studio.
 Gravitation chain ring |
 Moon age ring |
 Orbit pendant |
Why Soko?
- Made in Nairobi
- Price range: $35 – $300
Soko integrates the work of Kenyan artisans with the global market through technology. Soko is certainly not the only company doing something similar in different developing countries, but the reason why they made our list is the relevance of the designs and abetter understanding of their target consumer. These are pieces that you can wear frequently and even though they do offer some statement jewelry , their more timeless styles are awesome and very affordable, given the materials used. Soko is a great ethical and budget friendly alternative.
 Double Bead Bangle |
 Triple Chain Dangle |
 Twisted Bull Ring |
Why Vita Fede?
- Made in Italy
- Price range: $180 – $1,200
This brand is simply exquisite. A handcrafted collection made in Italy that you will want to pass on to your grand children.
 Ultra Mini Titan Crystal Ring |
 Marquese collar |
 Mini titan asteria bracelet |
Those are our favorite ethical jewelry brands found so far, we will add these brands to our directory and accept your suggestions for other great brands to include on our list and conscious shopping directory.